Okay good afternoon everyone oh that’s pretty dry come on guys we are music lovers we’re band heads and we love all things sound so good afternoon everyone good afternoon much better thank you I’m Jolene Butz Freeman I serve as the associate vice president of communications and media relations here
At Clark Atlant University I am the first female drum major in the history of Clark College in Clark Atlant University and I am a proud CA Mighty marching Panther and I am a proud C concert band alumna good good afternoon ladies and gentlemen I am Paul Hopson a proud 2011
Alum at C and also a former former member of the ca Mighty marchan Panthers as well as the CAU Phil Mar society and I also do currently serve as the president of the CAU alumni Music Association as well as a proud member of cap cide National Honor Band Fraternity
Incorporated so we’re so happy to see so many of you today to celebrate Dr Alfred D Wyatt senior the Father the professor the band director the musician the man and the legend absolutely absolutely Jolene Dr White meant so much to many of us in this room today and before we
Start with our program we must first do things decent and in order just like Dr Wyatt would I would like to read a scripture offer and offer a prayer I want to read a scripture from the book of Isaiah chapter 20 I’m sorry chapter 43: 18-2 and it reads I remember ye not
The former things neither consider the things of old behold I will do a new thing now it shall spring forth shall ye not know it I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert let’s all pray dear Lord thank you for Gathering
Us here today for today is the day that the Lord has made for we will rejoice and be glad in it um we also are we also are aware that this day would not have happened if had you not intervened in the midst yes so we continue to please
Guide us guide us in truth guide us in and happiness and guidance in joy and please help help us to execute this program in your way but not our way alone and it’s with Jesus name we all pray amen amen thank you Paul we’re going to move
Right into our program with a welcome by Mr Philip Davis the chair of Clark Atlanta’s Department of music good afternoon how’s everybody afterno to the executive branch music department faculty and staff past and present to the philarmonic society to the mighty marching panthers the alumni Music Association and the metropolitan Atlanta
Community band my name is Phil Davis interim chair of the music department here here uh and we are uh celebrating a great man we’re here for a um in a great event of a man of music and uh I have very fine memories of Dr Alfred Wyatt uh during my
Time here at Clark Atlanta uh from being in every Ensemble that they had for the love of music and because I needed scholarship money so as as of all of us too and because Clark was never it’s never been cheap so I’m just saying to watch him drive up in his yellow
Convertible Mercedes and uh to get great advice on how to lead and support a band that would help me through my career so uh this is a great setting to see all of this music Dr Wyatt would have wanted to be surrounded by music as he always was so welcome again and enjoy
Yourselves have a great time thank you Mr Davis next we have Mr Prince Scott The Treasure of the C alumni Music Association to bring the purpose of today’s program good evening ladies and gentlemen esteemed guests and cherish members of the Clark Atlanta University Community my name is
Prince Scott I serve as the treasurer of the Clark atan University alumni Music Association I am a 2011 graduate of Clark atland University um from the music department I’m a music educator former drum major of the mighty marching Panther band member of the beta Sai uh chapter of Mega scii Fraternity
Incorporated as well as a Iota chapter of cap cide National honorary band Fraternity Incorporated today’s event serves as a heartfelt tribute to the life and contributions of Dr Alfred Wyatt celebrating his unparalled impact on the Clark Atlanta University Department of music and The Wider Community it also
Aims to honor his legacy of Excellence Foster a sense of unity among alumni and friends and Inspire ongoing support for music education at Clark Atlanta University the music Alumni Association is humbled by the opportunity to honor a man who exemplified unwavering dedication passion and Excellence Dr wi’s Journey from humble beginnings to
Becoming the first drum major of Clark College is emblematic of his profound impact as an educator musician and fraternity brother today let us not only celebrate his remarkable achievements but also reaffirm our Collective commitment to preserving his legacy of Integrity service and musical Excellence for generations to come Dr W’s name will
Continue to resonate with our hearts and Minds inspiring us to strive for excellence and unity in all that we do thank you next we will hear from a nationally respected Coral Ensemble that has performed for noted figures to include Nelson Mandela Quincy Jones Jeffrey Osborne Ambassador Andrew Young and recently gared national attention
Performing for the NBA Allstar game as they come forward you guys I I really want y’all to give a round of applause for this group and everyone that you see this evening because playing a musical instrument is not easy singing is not easy have you ever heard somebody
Off yeah so give them a a round of applause y’all please stand we’re going to have the Clark Atlanta University Phil harmonic Society to sing lift every voice and sing E LIF every and sing lift every voice and sing till Earth and Heaven ring ring with the harmonies of high as theing Skies let it ReSound loud the rolling SE every Sing Sing facing the rising of our new day let us march on let us march on to Victory Not Have come oh we have come that has been we have come through the blood of of the now we stand at last where the white GLE of our bright is God of are We God Of th who brought The Th By Us for in The straight from the places Our God where we [Applause] met our hearts drunk with the wine of the world we For may we forever stand true to our god true to our [Applause] [Applause] let’s give it up one more time for the C Phil harmonic Society under the direction of Miss garnetta [Applause] pen yes yes such a beautiful arrangement um brings back a lot of memories of myself being the FL my Society singing those AR Arrangements under Mr Glenn Hy so thank
You again for the see you f my Society so next we will have our presentations from Mrs Mary Francis early the former chair of the ca Department Of Music an honorary doctor degree recipient to the stage for a special presentation [Applause] good afternoon I am so proud and so honored
That we are celebrating The Life and Legacy of my friend and colleague Dr Alfred D Wyatt senior I want you to to know that I have known Dr Wyatt for a very long time you can look at me in my gray hair and tell
That I was almost not quite as old as he but almost but when I was I graduated from Clark College in 1957 and I actually came to play with the band when I was a senior at Turner High School and he invited me to the black band Directors
Association because at that time the music associations were segregated he wanted me to pursue my dream which was to become a music educator like him and to be a female band director and I say that because you probably don’t know but back then in 57 uh there weren’t many women there
Were two of us one white and one black and that was me I always was sort of out of the box but he encouraged me Alfred also was a true music educator because he went to all of the music conferences we went together most of the times and sometimes with other music
Teachers but we went to State conferences divisional conferences national conferences and when I became the first black president of the Georgia music educators Association he he was the chair of the minority concerns and he even took that to the National level and we had sessions there then when Alfred started this
Band 25 years ago a little over 25 years I was one of the I guess there were about 25 musicians and I was one of those because I followed him and tried to help him but he was the founder of this organiz ation and he was so proud to have a band
They call themselves the busiest band in Atlanta and they are they just finished a big um February black history week s a series of programs and I am so proud of them because I was once one of them I also served as the uh Secretary of the
Board and was a grant writer and thank goodness there others now who take on that task but Alfred started in the elementary schools he taught Elementary and then he went to price high school and developed a topnotch a topnotch high school band so his students even now talk about him
Because he was such a wonderful influence on hundreds of students he also I also worked with him in the Atlanta Public Schools when I was coordinator director music Alfred was a music resource teacher and then he became he he started climbing he became a assistant principal and when he
Finally before he retired he was the assistant superintendent of the secondary division so we go back a long way and I was inspired by him and by his dedication to music education because you see it’s been said that when he was at Clark College well before me I think about 78
Years he was the first um drum major and he also played French horn and I think his son followed in his footsteps with the French horn so he influenced even his own family and I think Janny was in the band also but Alfred went from being a teacher to an
Administrator to an activist in terms of helping to make Equity possible among music educators in Georgia and Beyond and this band has traveled not only they they perform not only in in the Metro Atlanta area but they’ve even gone to Washington DC and to many places beyond the uh boundaries of
Atlanta so Alfred and I both had a vision on of music education being so important important because it gives you more it gives you more than just music it gives you life lessons and I sang in the philarmonic as well as played in the band and so did
He but when when you look at all of the accomplishments that he has made it makes me proud that he had the vision to appoint assistant directors associate directors uh Mr Curtis birung and also bbal Moody and um Alan Ward because he wanted this band to continue you see
Many of these players are also music educators some are professional musicians and what a gift to Atlanta like Alfred I am looking forward to music education as a degree being reinstated here here at Clark Atlanta University because yes I did I did share the department from 1997 until
2005 and music education was taken out along with some other things but we need music education and this is the place where we can get it started again with your help at those of you who attended the the memorial service for Dr Wyatt might remember that I said in my
Remarks that we should establish a scholarship in his name to keep his legacy going so that younger students will know who he is and who he was and now as of today I can tell you that we have we are moving toward that go I have a wonderful group of a team
Who works who’s working with me to that goal um going to ask them to stand aretta Brenson Dr aretta Brenson Dana Pace who was a former one of my former band students but he’s now at uh University and of course Dr Alfred W Wyatt Jr and his sister Gina
Now we could not do this without help from Clark Atlanta University and we have many administrators and staff members who are working with us so I want to tell you keep your eyes and ears open uh we hope to get email addresses it will be on social media and we are
Working toward the goal of a $50,000 scholarship that will be invested so it will be in perpetuity for band students here at Clark Atlanta University and we are on the road it’s getting there and we’ll let you know a little later how you can help I hope
That you will want to join in this Venture because it’s the best way that we can honor a wonderful man thank [Applause] you thank you Dr early for that amazing presentation at this time with all CA alumni former members of the C Mighty marching panthers and C concert band brass
Ensemble as well please stand so if you are ever in the band at any given time at Clark Atlanta please [Applause] stand keep standing look at that so on behalf of the Clark Atlanta University alumni relations office Dr Lorie Sadler I’ll read as follows whereas alumnist Alfred D Wyatt senior
Graduated from Clark College in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts in music music Miss early and from Atlanta University in 1986 with a doctorate of Education in administration and supervision and whereas while as a student at Clark College alumnist Alfred D Wyatt senior distinguished himself academically he
Was a charter member of the Clark College marching panthers where he became their first drum major and was initiated into the Omega Sci-Fi fraternity Incorporated and whereas alumnist Alfred D Wyatt senr was a lifelong educator musician he taught and was a music resource administrator for Atlanta Public Schools he became an
Associate superintendent in area offices and the secondary division of Atlanta Public Schools before his retirement in 1996 and he served as band director and adjunct music professor at Clark College and Clark at L University y’all Dr Wyatt was busy whereas alumnus Wyatt’s illustrious music career and proficiency as a French
Hornest led him to become one of the first African-Americans to play for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra he established a metropolitan Atlanta Community band known as macb designated to enhance the lives of underserved children and adults he was a national chair of the Omega sci-fi Talent Hutt hunt a recipient of the
Distinguished Omega five Man of the Year award a c Spirit of greatness Honore and conferred C band director Emeritus and whereas alumnist Alfred D Wyatt’s Legacy lives on through his son Dr Alfred D Wyatt Jr and his daughter Gina E Wyatt two granddaughters Dr Charlie E Wyatt
And Dr nah n Wyatt granddaughter y’all hear that Legacy do Dr doctor you I just want to know if you’re following me here great granddaughter London messic his brother of Omega Sci-Fi fraternity Incorporated and a host of Family and friends and the Clark Atlanta University community on which he made such an
Indelible Mark and whereas the entire Clark Atlanta University Community is deeply saddened by his passing away but we loved him dearly and that is why we are here therefore be it resolved President George T French Jr the Board of Trustees the faculty and the staff the alumni and students hereby celebrate
The life of Dr Alfred D here on Sunday March 10th 2024 President George T French Jr and Dr Lorie Sadler our vice president of alumni [Applause] Affairs so next we will have Mr Rick Joiner and and inductee into the national broadcaster Hall of Fame and host of jazz 91.9 wk’s serenade to the
City radio show to join us on this program good afternoon everyone I am so excited and honored to be asked to be a part of this very important incredible program uh I have a saying you may have heard it before every day that we live we’re working on our
Dash and the size of that Dash that’s the dash that’s going to be on The Headstone between the year that you were born and the year that you died and the size of that Dash depends on what you do while you’re here Dr Wyatt’s Dash was
Huge the impact that his life had on so many is just very present here today you can’t help but feel it to hear people talk about all of the wonderful incredible things that he did while he was here I believe that musicians singers or instrument players are among the smartest people in the
World and and if you know what music does to the brain and what it does to the heart and the spirit then you will agree with me all of you that were just standing a few minutes ago you you’re some of the smartest people in Atlanta you have to be because of the
Impact of the music I am a direct recipient of the benefits I walked in and they were warming up and I started having flashbacks and chills from when I played percussion from sixth grade all the way through college I hadn’t played in a while but they kind of make me want to
Brush off my sticks and my mallets if you got an opening for percussion is just you know let me but the music is incredible and when Dr Wyatt established this community band first playing at greenb mall and South decab Mall for free and they continue to play for
Free it’s very important that you understand the impact of that because not only are the musicians benefiting from being musicians but exposing those that come and see them play and hear them play giving them that exposure here is just incredible and to be still playing I mean I’m looking at
Them I’m like my age fits right in there I think you know I think I I might be able to join these cats yeah I’m I’m coming I’m coming it’s just incredible and they’ve done some wonderful performances over the years including uh playing at the Martin the King Jr Memorial and the Air
Force Memorial in Washington DC during the Memorial Day celebration in I believe it’s was 2015 and all of the wonderful places they’ve been able to travel and share the Incredible Gift of music it is my honor to present to you the hardest working community band in Show Business everybody put your hands
Together and welcome the Metropol Atlanta Community [Applause] band this man was going through the neighborhood says what’s your name little boy he said John say John you want to go to heaven he said yes sir this little girl what’s your name she said Mary he said Mary you want to go to
Heaven yes sir son what’s your name Sam Sam you want to go to heaven he said no sir he said mean you don’t want to go to heaven when you die he said Oh I thought you were trying to get up a load now brother Wyatt has gone to heaven
Uh I’m going to sing this spiritual uh right up in the chariot but see you have to be good to get on board and I know brother ride in his man I know him at Allen Temple Church where he sang in the choir and I know him in the greatest
Fraternity in the universe in Omega Sai and I’ve seen all of the good works that he has done so I know that he jumped in that chair because he qualified so if we want to meet brotherwise then we need to do like right we need to be good enough to ride the Char to ride up in the Chariot sooner in the morning ride up in the Chariot sooner in in the morning ride up in the Char sooner in the morning and I hope I’ll join the B oh Lord have mercy on me oh Lord have
Mercy on me oh Lord have mercy on me and I hope I’ll join the going to walk and talk with Jesus soon or in the morning morning walk and talk with Jesus sooner in the morning walk and talk with Jesus sooner in the morning and I hope I’ll join the
B oh Lord have mercy on me oh Lord have mercy on me oh Lord have mercy on me and now hope I’ll join the B To CH with the angels soon in the morning chatter with the angels sooner in the morning chatter with the angels sooner in the morning and I hope I’ll join the B oh Lord have mercy on me oh Lord have mercy on me oh Lord have mercy on me and
Now hope I’ll join the band Lord have mercy Lord have mercy Lord have mercy and I hope I’ll join the best right in the morning oh my [Applause] [Applause] Lord For Yeah J D La Oh L [Applause] [Applause] la Oh [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] please give a one one more round of applause to the Metro Atlant Comm band thank you so [Applause] much next we will I’m sorry next we will have a presentation from the men of Omega Sci-Fi fraternity Incorporated followed by the presentation from the charter members of Kappa capai National
Honorary band frat attorney Incorporated Dr Alfred Wyatt senior was an educator musician mentor and an icon at Clark Atlanta University and the City of Atlanta as well Dr Wyatt was born in Atlanta Georgia and was a product of the Atlanta Public Schools he graduated from the historic Booker Washington High School in Atlanta
Georgia after graduating from high school Dr Wyatt enrolled at clarkk College where he ultimately received his degree in 1950 in that same year Dr Wyatt was forced to place his career goals on hold as he was drafted into the United States Army however by the end of his tour he received a diploma from the naval School of Music in Washington DC subsequently in 195 6 Dr Wyatt received a master in
Music education from Vander Cook College of Music in Chicago Illinois Dr Wyatt went on to receive another master’s degree in administration and Supervision in 1985 and a doctorate in 1986 from Atlanta University in 1946 Dr Wyatt became Clark College’s first drum major and later band leader of the year the cement educator was a high school teacher band director department chair Javelin coach project coordinator music resource instructor and an associate superintendent Dr Wyatt was a musician through and through he was one of the
First African-Americans to perform with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Dr Wyatt was also instrumental in students having the opportunity to perform with the symphony brother Wyatt crossed the Burning Sands on December 17th 1947 into the beta side chapter of Omega Sci-Fi fraternity Incorporated over 75 years of service to
Omega and the university will live on in the grand Legacy of this giant [Applause] so next we’ll have a we’ll have the charter members of capap aside National H ban frat attorney Incorporated Good evening Dr Alfred Wyatt our most adored and beloved band director meant so much so much to so many people he literally educated thousands and helped thousands more young African-Americans get their college educations by providing scholarships is it time for me to stop already he recruited me along with Dr
James Patterson who was here from fedick Douglas High School my band director from fedick Douglas High School is here when I was just 17 years old although I was a dual deegree major mathematics and electrical engineering many fellow students thought that I was a music Major because I spent most so
Much time in the band programs at C including the brass Ensemble and for all intent and purposes is because of Dr Wyatt recruiting both myself and my wife the Mistress of ceremony from rival high schools at that that we met fell in love got married and have two beautiful souls to brag on
Dr Wyatt was a once in a generation leader and educator he was soft softspoken but firm he was benevolent warm-hearted he encouraged us and had a great sense of humor he challenged us all not to just be the best musicians that we could be but to be the best human beings that we
Could be the Dr Wyatt lesson that I still carry with me daily is to accentuate the positive just recently on February 7th 2024 we celebrated our 31st anniversary as Kappa capai honorary band fraternity Iota to chapter here at Clark Atlanta University the Visionary inspiration supported leader and financial backer
Was none other than Dr Alfred Wyatt I am Jerry Ellis I have some memories to share and thank yous I thank Dr Wyatt for choosing me to represent C by becoming a charter member of iot iot child chapter a Capa capai National honorary band Fraternity Incorporated I appreciate Dr Wyatt for always being so caring kind
And understanding of my personal needs such as being self-conscious of getting the dance moves right on the field so I thank you Dr Wyatt for putting me on soua phone and he said don’t worry about it just don’t move around as much hi I’m Glenn Purdue let me say this it was not
Originally my um intention to go go to an HBCU it was my intention to go to the college that accepted me which was New England Conservatory music in Boston and I went there for two years and had to leave after completing two years because um we
All know this already it was way too expensive to stay and so I came back to Atlanta and worked for a year the first person who contacted me from Clark Atlanta University was Dr Alfred White and he talked to me about coming to Clark Atlanta and I’m like well I I
Could go to Clark Lake but I’m I’m thinking about you know checking out some other places and he said you could get an academic scholarship if you come to Clark Atlanta University and while he didn’t personally pull any strings for me to get the scholarship of course I
Had to pull as many strings that I could personally pull on my own which is why I believe in the model I’ll find a way or make one um he was the reason I came to Clark Atlanta University and years after after graduating and years after being in the
Educational world and the professional world I don’t rep New England Conservatory music I mention New England Conservatory music but for the rest of my life I represent Clark Atlanta University one exceptional University and for that reason I represent Dr Alfred D Wyatt and these are my couple of remembrance and points
My Dr Wyatt was a unique director in my life he had the calmness of a river the leadership qualities of a lion and the longterm commitment and stability of an oak tree he is the reason I applied for and received an academic scholarship the reason I stayed in the marching band and
The reason I became a charter member of Iota toal of the great Kappa caide National honorary band fraternity thank [Applause] you guys I’m Sean Donovan a former drum major from 92 to 95 of the mighty clar clarkland University Mighty marching panthers uh thank you Dr Wyatt had this way of talking without
Talking silent uh he taught me so many life lessons um one of the most influential was not having to be loud to be heard um I came from southwester cab high school and at the time amen uh the most prominent High School band in the country [Applause] Bunch of Doug Astros behind me but I came in pretty cocky had big chip on my shoulder loud just arrogant one day he sat me down and he quoted Luke 14 he said that he that exalts himself shall be humbled and he that humbleth himself shall be
Exalted I didn’t have to draw attention to myself to be noticed but just be humble and allow others to see what he saw in me that was it God bless y’all thank [Applause] you well obviously great minds think a lot um Dr early we’re going to probably have
To get together and work out some things regarding this scholarship because as a charter line of idar we have agreed to establish a scholarship in Dr W’s honor right um it will be given to the student during homecoming who most exemplifies the characteristics that Dr Wyatt would most be proud leadership teamwork discipline
Musicianship kindness supports the band program and strives for the heest of course it will require an application a written statement as to why they feel worthy of the scholarship and a vote of confidence from the band director we are all blessed to have had the opportunity
To be impacted by such a genuinely good man classy and sophisticated and lastly and in the spirit of Dr White remember it’s nice to be important but it’s important to be nice thank you C so next we will have again thank you so much the charter line member of Kaa
Capi National h b attorney corporated ID Char chapter so next we will have two more selections from the Metro Atlanta Community [Applause] band Pap A Oh Oh [Applause] [Applause] A Pap [Applause] [Applause] a all right it’s good to be home uh it is absolutely appropriate that this tun is being played tonight last time it was played Dr W was band director there’s some students here if you would stand up that that played this when we first did it it has not been
Yes it’s not been performed since you guys did it so U it’s original and one one of the several pieces I wrote uh for Clark’s band for the mighty Marsing Panther band I wrote this the copyright dat is 1987 uh it is it’s my job as uh resident Funk
Master of this group that that I make sure that the front so what we’re going to do we’re going to go to the land of front right now hope you enjoy it everybody ready Oh Yeah la he N The A 2 He [Applause] w I got to say this I was Dr W when I first got here in Atlanta I came down from Detroit I tell people I escaped from Detroit in 1975 uh I got here and played with a group for a while and a gentleman by the
Name of Charles Bradley who was the director of Emy Wind Ensemble at the time uh told me gold asked me if I had a degree I spent four and a half years in Michigan State majoring in uh staying out of Vietnam which I was successful at doing
That so I got came down here I never even heard of Clark College and Bradley told me to go he asked me if I had a degree I was like no go see Dr White okay so I it took me about a year but I
I I came over here and Dr W listen to me play and he said uh we uh you know if you can get in school we’ll get you some money I was like yeah I been you know I was at Michigan State you know I know I
Can get in school that’s so I did get in school here and and thanks to Dr Wyatt um I graduated I was his assistant from 10 from 83 to 93 I was Dr Patterson’s assistant from 1977 which was my I started my first year he had he was ill
And he would not let anyone take the band The Jazz Orchestra except me and so I was his assistant from 77 and ’93 and why is assist from 83 to 93 and I got to say this about both gentlemen they prepared me well and I and my my work at Clark is in
Uh payment of the debt that I ow clar colge clar colge family thank you [Applause] everybody is it on okay good yeah give another Applause for the metropolitan Atlanta Community band thank you [Applause] again so next we have the esteemed pleasure to bring to the stage Miss Ashante Griffin our vice president of
The C alumni music [Applause] assciation hi good afternoon everyone like Paul said I’m Ashante Griffin I am a 2011 graduate of the Department of music I graduated with a vocal performance degree and I also sung in the philarmonic society and yes and I’m also um a member of the
Sigma chapter of Delta Sigma Theta so everyone’s talking about beta SI so yes um I am the vice president of the alumni Music Association and we are trying to highlight our gems that have come through the music department so as you can see if you were here from when we
Did the um honoring of Dr Patterson and now Dr Wyatt we have a lot of history that has come through the department and that has come through this school and nobody will celebrate us like us so we want to make sure that we honor those people that have done great things
Through music and through Clark Atlanta University so if you have not had the chance to scan the QR code on your way in please do so as you exit one of the things that we do in the alumni Music Association is try to give scholarships to current students so we are also
Raising money in Dr Wyatt’s name to give a scholarship to a student just as we did with Dr Patterson’s event so we have a short clip from one of our scholarship recipients from the past event that we would like for you to watch hi I am Autumn star Swain I
Typically go by star I am currently classified sophomore at Clark Atlanta the illustrious Clark Atlanta University I am in the process of changing my major actually to music education currently a vocal studies students but I will be a music education major um I’m passionate about music for many reasons I’ve been
Been passionate about music since I was 3 or four years old I come from a musical family my brother sings my sister sing my dad was a ’90s rapper music has just been a wonderful part of my life and a release in so many different ways I am currently in the
Philarmonic society and an officer on the eboard and it being in this Society has impacted my my my life in so many different ways being that I am a music Major I get to go every day outside of just doing the grun work I get to go and
Just sing songs that I love and be around people that love the same thing as me and are just as passionate I get the opportunity to talk to people that will be doing the exact that do the exact same thing I will be doing very
Soon after I graduate I get to ask them questions about the music I get to ask them about opportunity ities um I get oneon-one time with them and that is something that I will remember for the rest of my life and the things that they bring to the table is something that
Actually helps me um in in my major I there’s been days where I come in and I just asked them hey uh what what is the theory behind this or why did the composer do this and uh that has been a wonderful part of my day my contribution
Being that I am a member on the eboard I am the secretary and the librarian I get to make sure that everybody’s organized and that is one of that is one of my passions besides music it’s just being organized and structured um people have been drawn to me because of my Lively
Personality as some say and that has uh helped us secure opportunities we as a choir as a whole get to go to different events and sing different songs where we can Network and talk to more people like we’re currently in the process of trying to go on tour and I remember last year
At one of the alumni events talking to the alumni about this to set the process off you know my uh future and in music is so important to me and being in a space where I get to make these connections with so many different people from different parts of the
Country doing so many different things and such different things than what I am doing honestly is a blessing um I can’t think of anywhere else that I would be to get this opportunity for free I get to talk to the finance Majors the theater Majors make things happen the amount of times
That we’ve done different projects outside of choir the because this connection has made our bond stronger um choir has an enormous impact on not just m but everyone in choir and and anyone that’s that hears the choir they are touched we are touched by what we do music is such
A a therapeutic part of people and I am proud I am very very proud to be in the philarmonic society what an illustrious name that the philarmonic society carries and I am very thankful to be a part of this and I’m very thankful for the opportunity to just
Share this and to share my story and my love for it so thank you so again if you have the opportunity please give um I’m also a current High School Coral director and like she said we’re able to experience different things through music and one thing that
We all want for our students we want for ourselves we want for the current college students is to become lifelong musicians like Dr Early said a lot of these people are practicing professional they’re also music educators and we just want to make sure that we’re able to
Pour into the students that are here currently if we can do that financially then please do so um so now we on behalf of the alumni Music Association would like to present the family of Dr Wyatt with a plaque to honor His Life and Legacy for what he’s done through Clark
Atlanta and the Metro Atlanta area um we’ve heard from his former students and colleagues about how great of a man he was and we just appreciate the time that we’ve had with him and we appreciate his service and everything that he’s done for music and through music so rushing
Outside of the house I apologize I left it at home but I will coordinate with you all to give it to you but we just want to say thank you so much on behalf of your father um he was a great person he was a great musician and we just
Wanted to make sure that you all know how much we appreciated him and what he’s done thank you all right the six gentlemen coming up next have been pretty busy over the past three decades walk on the wide side Wild Side with me for a little bit guys just
A couple of days ago a couple of them were performing with Andre 3000 at the Variety Playhouse right in 2019 while another one had scored and arranged the welcome to Atlanta opening commercial for the NFL Super Bowl 53 he arranged are y’all you listening okay arrange the music two of them were
Performing the halftime show with big boy of outcast and Maroon 5 these are all products y’all of Dr Alfred D Wyatt senior now nearly all of them now nearly all of them are owners and leaders of their own Pro bands or band educational programs and making their
Marks as professionals so y’all Round of Applause please for these Alum just us not only are they musicians but they can sing too y’all Dr Wyatt made sure of it all right my name is Billy Jones class of 93 Phil Davis class of 91 Jerry Freeman class of 94 trumpet player Jason Freeman
95 James Anderson 9 sorry about that James Anderson Glenn Purdue class of 97 um so I guess before we perform all right so first of all none of us are vocal Majors all of us um were participants in all of the band organizations at Clark Atlanta University and uh like Jolene said we
Are a direct product of what I like to call our three musical fathers that would be David bird Dr Patterson and of course Dr Wyatt and we owe them uh a debt that we could never repay you know just for them nurturing us and and giving us the courage to do stuff like
This and uh if you want to know our backstory read the bio it’s pretty long so this is one of the songs that Dr W would allow us to sing at our at our our band spring concert and this is called Walk On The Wildside Sinners s s siners The ODS are going to heaven the odds are going to heaven the odds are going to heaven the 6 to1 6 to1 what I’m know one day pray it’s six nights of fun you better believe the ODS are going to heaven a six you walk on the Wild sat is waiting to take hand the the prise Lord you know it’sing six nights of fun you better believe it the are going to heav you walk on the wild side you better walk cuz if you you walk wild you better cross into the promised land lord you
Know it’s one praying six nights of fun you better believe that the eyes are going to heaven the eyes are going to heaven D the eyes are going to heaven the eyes are going to heaven the the eyes are going to the eyes are going to heaven
The the eyes going to the are going to the are going To 61 61 61 4 6 6 5 4 3 2 six nights of Fun 6 6 3 2 6 2 I you better Come’s just around the corner all the devil wants is your head your hand are going to heaven 6 [Applause] [Applause] To1 well all right okay did they not get down oh my goodness jeez my husband and my brother-in-law they also going to heaven is 6 to one my best buddies out there Billy y’all oh geez Glenn y’all got me one of the Encore amen amen Phil all right listen that was amazing
Y’all one more round of applause for just us absolutely all right y’all so we just gave this great Round of Applause for these guys just us they guys musicians but they were taught by a man like Dr Alfred D Wyatt Senor whose passion y’all for bands here
At CU C they never wavered his passion for us never wavered and we’re going to show you proof check this out this is Alfred Wyatt senior I’m sitting in the office of the band director at Clark Atlanta University and though I’m an alumnist of this University I’m calling on all
Alumni to come and play with us for homecoming we are suffering for not only only size but the importance of quality for the band we need you we’d love to have you here for homecoming it would be a great get together if we come together and represent the band in the quality
That we have always known we need you and we need you now I hope to see you very very soon to make this band bigger and better look forward to seeing you so y’all a few years back at 85 years old Dr Wyatt did an all call for a CA
Marching band alumni to perform in homecoming because the band was suffering and um they had very few members at the time Anya James actually recorded that video for us and she sent that video out to the masses and guess what thank you for saying what uh that’s
My boss y’all thank you Dr Lucas uh he asked for us to for us to come and guess what we came we came in numbers we came we had fancy t-shirts with the logo on it Jerry was running around getting them printed with his printer and when I say
Y’all we hit that feeli like it was 1980 whatever that year was but that’s what we did and we came because he called on us so without further Ado guys I want to introduce you all to the band that has per formed and been featured in 20th century Fox’s movie drum line performed
In 7 Honda Battle of the band competitions highlighted in a national McDonald’s commercial featured in the Atlanta Falcons Championship parade and on BET’s hip hop recently National broadcast so Dr Wyatts now Dr Goodson’s Clark Atlanta University Mighty marching panthers Check out the new unic check out the new unic D Oh Sh [Applause] W 1 2 3 4 Thank Do Woo wo Woo Get [Applause] so again another round of applause for the C Mighty March and Panthers band under the direction of Mr goodin thank you again yeah well Jolene it’s definitely a pleasure hosting with you this evening it has been a wonderful wonderful afternoon and evening Paul thank you so
Very much I know we’ve got some acknowledgements to do yes yes hey tell them what your role was in the band please your historic role stop playing we go ahead Jolene all the mess has spoken see I was just trying to go have some cheese and some meat for the reception
So I’m just going to say this uh little quick story y’all uh Dr Wyatt was very connected with all the band directors in the city of Atlanta and if anybody knows anything back in our time our bands were outstanding and very competitive in the Atlanta Public School System okay we
Were good we were good most of us were all State uh you know musicians and we would see each other and compete against each other um I mentioned that you know I’m a maze High Raider and I kind of married into the Douglas High Astro family no I’m
There an astro but it’s all in fun but seriously um it was so serious and Dr Wyatt knew everybody so um he would come to all the schools and he would audition us and we all got scholarships right so I got a full fouryear scholarship to a
10 class CLK Atlanta in a marching band and concert band however I didn’t want to stay home I wanted to go away to college so I went to Johnson C Smith University my freshman year a Golden Bull back here and um he gave me a four-year scholarship there as well got
Several but um I got up there y’all and the story is after my freshman year the band director didn’t have my money for my last three years so let me tell you about the right right let me tell you about the the level of just the heart and the the level of
Professionalism and the love and the just the the goodness of Dr Alfred D Wyatt senior I called him back I said Dr Wyatt this man because I was mad at the band director this man didn’t have my money for my last three years to finish college sir and my parents were disabled
They were both on fix fixed income they couldn’t afford to send me to college I said sir would you please still honor my scholarship and Dr Wyatt said come on home baby so I transferred back here to Atlanta moved in courts um and I finished my uh
My three years in college here but during that time to Billy’s Point um they had never had a female drum major and I happen to have been drum major at May’s High School in high school as well um I just love music and band and blah
Blah blah so uh uh what was his name my big brother Rodney Cohen was graduating Dr Cohen’s son and so he went and talked to Dr White and he said uh Dr Wyatt I’m sorry but I’ve seen Jolene she the girl is bad you know you know you need to he said I
Ain’t never had no girl drum major before you know he was the first now he was the first drum major period so he was like I don’t know let me check her out y’all by the end of the week Dr Wyatt called me to the B room he whisper he
Says you made drum maor so he made me the first female drum major in the history of this institution [Applause] W so it’s uh I owe it and so Gina thank y’all so much for the love I I love my band family I really do and without them
And Gina and Alfred let me just tell you thank you from the bottom of my heart and my parents cuz they also knew your dad very well very well um and on behalf of everybody else for um loaning your dad to us thank you for loaning and
Sharing him with us thank you so with that um we’ve got a couple special announcements I got to thank Dean udoka um sylvus udoka he is the uh dean of the School of Business you guys know that we are highly ranked our School of Business I have to thank our Provost Dr Charlene
Gilbert because they came through for us for the reception and I want to thank alumni relations for the proclamation and any and everybody that’s had a a hand in this event this evening thank you so very much for this and my boss I’m smart I gotta get my
Chair Dr Richard Lucas he is the vice president of institutional advancement here at Clark University so please go on the website and give give give back to your uh University y’all they need it the students need it right come on now and I would also like to give an
Acknowledgements to um my Executive Board of the C alumni Music Association Ashante Griffin vice president Prince Scott treasure Raymond wils parliamentarian Sharice cbor recording secretary Jamie Coy correspondent secretary and historian Ronnie Nelson and I also want to definely cannot do the work without my executive work appreciate them so
Very much I also want to give a shout out to the Metropolitan Atlantic community band for doing such an amazing [Applause] job and more specifically more specifically James Hudson a member of the Metropolitan band I know he’s definitely struggled a lot to get where is he available okay yes thank yes thank you
Mr H you I also see uh Dr Phil Patterson here as well thank glad to have you here I’m sorry James Patterson I’m sorry my apology Dr James Patterson all right so at this time we’re going to all stand for our Alma moer from Clark La University Phil
Harmonic society and thank you so very much for joining us the briding the mountains sping the SE calling thy sons and thy daughters so true Dr CL at lant We R to you R our hearts be Th [Applause] th great of th [Applause] Great thank [Applause] you also the QR code if we can pull that back up please remember to donate donate donate we definitely need funds to in order to fund our Scholarships in order to fund our students so that please and thank you the family of Dr y if you can please
Come to the front so we can take pictures greatly appreciate it thank you so the code I’m sorry so the code is up here so please donate
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